option question

BILL, THAT WILL DO THE TRICK!

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

Most of the option teams we face are QB/FB oriented and really don't want to pitch the ball. Whenever we play a team like that our #1 adjustment is a "switch" by the OLBer. He usually has pitch responsibilty, but on the switch he knifes down the QB. We have the FS running the alley for QB to Pitch, and the Corner on late Pitch. This has really shut down the QB and has also led to some bad pitches laid on the ground. Even when the pitch is made succesfully, if you have an athletic FS, it MAY make a 4 yard gain.

(4-2-5) GREAT VARIATION: Play DT's in double 4I's (or WIDE 3's IF they oversplit) & have them CRASH HARD on an angle towards the FB. The ILB's can stack on the Center (stem from a "split" look late to the stack). The MLB (deepest of the 2) may be unblocked.

You handle the MIDLINE 2 ways from that (use only ONE per game according to the opponent's strength & weakness):

1. "BASE": DT's (4I's) & UP LBer take FB - & MLB plays the QB (with help from the Robber F/S who is an extra defender in the box IF the play breaks the LOS).

2. "QUEEN" call: DT's (4I's) on QB - & BOTH ILBers (stacked) play the FB (with help from the Robber F/S who is an extra defender in the box IF the play breaks the LOS).

The "Triple" is played as follows:

SECONDARY: Cover 1 before motion - slide to ROBBER in direction motion is headed.
A) Corners = 2 yds. inside #1 x 9 yds. deep. Stay inside #1 at all times.
B) Free Safety = 8 yds. deep splitting the #2 receivers. Vs. motion – slide over on OT and read #2. If #2 releases vertical , cover him . If #2 blocks DE or walls on inside Lber – come up for pitch on option. If #2 arcs OLB – come up for QB on option. If no motion – split #2 receivers – normal F/S play.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Line up 2 yds. outside Wings x 2 yds. off LOS. Read Wings (#2). If Wing arcs – take pitch on option. If Wing blocks Def. End – take QB on option (make him get the ball out of his hands quick). Dropback pass – lock onto Wing. Play action to you – if Wing releases outside – cover him M/M; if Wing releases vertical or crosses – let him go and take QB. If Wing motions away and flow goes away, fold back behind Def. Line looking for cutbacks, or receivers crossing from other side.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS: Stacked on Center (the UP one slides to a shade to the side motion is headed on a R or L call by MLB). MLB (deepest) plays from Dive to QB to Pitch.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Line up in 4I technique (your outside shoe just inside of OT’s inside shoe). On snap pinch inside hard off hip of OG’s and tackle dive (or anything that shows).

DEFENSIVE ENDS: Line up in a 6 technique head up on Wings (#2 receivers). If unblocked, play from first threat to QB. If blocked – be a football player. Contain QB on passes (force Wing to take outside release) and check for bootlegs-counters-reverses.

The adjustments to the 6-8 various formations must be worked our WITHOUT changing responsibilities. BASICALLY - if an End (WR) goes over - the Corner goes over, etc.

IF there are any questions - PHONE me at 804-740-4479 (Va/EDT).

HEY BILL,

THANKS FOR THAT EXCELLENT BREAKDOWN. I KNOW WE WILL ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT POST!!!

Coach Easton-TIGER ONE

I agree with Coach Cella here. We aren't big schemers against the option. We teach option responsibilities.

In our base defense (we run a strong eagle 50)

Our ILB's are responsible for dive, ends are responsible for qb, olb (and strong safety) are responsible for pitch. We will exchange our responsibilities on a veer release. Our ends are taught to slingshot inside against a veer release and tackle the dive back. As the backer fills he will gap exchange for QB.

We have to rep the hell out of it. The one thing that happens early on is that the ilb will get too wide on the exchange and the qb will duck it inside.

THe only type of scheme I would really play around with would be how to play the qb. If the pitch back scared me I would slow play the qb on the pitch read. If the qb scared me I'd get the ball pitched as quickly as possible.

I understand TIGER. I may have sounded like we are helter-skelter against the option and have a lot of adjustments, but I think what we do is just what you suggested: keep the ball out of the best players hands. We don't play many option teams in our regular schedule, but always start out the year learning how to defend the option. In any given week, even if a team doesn't run the option, we don't make adjustments to formations that aren't option sound. Our philosophy is "if a defense can defend the option, it can defend just about anything". We will rep our base assiginments out of our base front, and WILL NOT progress to any adjustments until we feel we can play base and stop anyone.

Our adjustments are for exactly what you suggested - who's hands do we want the ball in for the other team? That's what the weak fullback stunt (take away the fullback) and the "switch" (make the QB pitch it) are for. I shouldn't have said "we'll take our chances on the pitchback", as we are still very much assignment oriented on our two adjustments. "We would rather the ball be out of the QB's hands, because we feel like we can handle the pitch man" would have been more accurate.

As alway, your suggestions are appreciated and taken at face value.

One of the basic "tenets" of the FLEXBONE is that if you don't have THREE defenders committed to the option (D/Q/P) OUTSIDE the B gap defender - they will run THERE all day, & PROBABLY with success.